Following China's allocation of 30,000 liters liquid oxygen, is Nepal considering vaccine assistance?

Nepal gets China's allocation of 30000 liters liquid oxygen amid oxygen crisis over COVID-19

After India, Nepal is the worst affected country in South Asia with the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc in the Himalayan nation. Nepal over the weeks have been  witnessing a rapid increase in infection as well as the death rates. As some studies suggest, the country is facing shortages of hospital beds, oxygen and other medical supplies as the health care system of the nation scratches over the rising COVID-19 incidents, while the infections are making Nepal a "mini-India".

International aid to Nepal is increasing, but the country's most urgent needs are oxygen and vaccinations, particularly now that the pandemic has spread to the country's most isolated villages, where there is no hospital treatment, medical facilities, or practitioners. As many as 90% of PCR tests in Nepal's mountainous Rolpa and Humla districts comes out positive.

Earlier, two tankers, with 15 tonne capacity each, have been doing the rounds from India to supply liquid oxygen to Nepal.  India had supplied Nepal single-handedly with the liquid oxygen, but now the long time Beijing assistance has arrived for Kathmandu rescue in these tough times. Recently, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi in a tweet wrote "30,000 Liters liquid oxygen from TAR of China has been handed over to Nepal at Zhangmu/Tatopani border port!"

30,000 Liters liquid oxygen from TAR of China has been handed over to Nepal at Zhangmu/Tatopani border port! pic.twitter.com/qcGam1DfeC

— Ambassador Hou Yanqi (@PRCAmbNepal) May 22, 2021

Responding to Ambassador tweet, Editor-in-Chief of Baahrakhari Mr. Prateek Pradhan said "Thanks a lot, excellency!! Please manage to donate or sell Chinese vaccines asap. We would always be grateful."

Thanks a lot, excellency!! Please manage to donate or sell Chinese vaccines asap. We would always be grateful.

— Prateek Pradhan (@prateekpradhan) May 22, 2021

However, In May alone, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi had confirmed of China delivering 2,000 oxygen cylinders and 10 ventilators to Nepal, as well as 200 oxygen generators from Chinese companies in the region, to help Nepal tackle the current surge of COVID-19 infections.

Emergency supplies all fly in Nepal to enable Nepal to battle the fierce Second Wave of Covid-19 from the United States, Australia, China and Singapore. It must be said that the external world seems more concerned about Nepal than the national politicians, who struggled for dominance over the past year, and have now turned their attention to contentious early elections in November. The vaccine diplomacy of the government so far has not been effective in persuading India, the US or Europe to hurry.

May 22, 2021